Padres will be sold to group which includes the O'Malley family

Published August 17. 2012 12:01AM

The O'Malleys are back in the baseball business.

Back in Southern California, too, just down the road in San Diego instead of Los Angeles.

In a quick vote Thursday, Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of the Padres to a group that includes Kevin and Brian O'Malley, the sons of former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley. Commissioner Bud Selig announced the endorsement after the conclusion of the owners meetings in Denver.

Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from owner John Moores for around $800 million. The final closing of the sale will be on or before Aug. 31.

Ron Fowler, a local businessman in San Diego, will become the executive chairman. The new ownership group also consists of Peter and Tom Seidler, the nephews of Peter O'Malley, along with golfer Phil Mickelson.

This is a group of heavy hitters, especially given the pedigree of the O'Malley family. The late Walter O'Malley bought the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 and moved them to Los Angeles before the 1958 season.

Peter O'Malley eventually took over for his father and all told under the family's ownership, the Dodgers won six World Series.